Whether you've been dating all your life or you're newly back on the scene, there's no denying things have drastically changed in recent years.

Best Dating Apps of 2021. By: Amber Brooks Updated: April 22, 2020. OurTime is an over-50 dating site with a lot of helpful features to facilitate friendships. Best for an entirely 50+ audience: Lumen. Lumen is the first dating app specifically designed for over 50s. Combining the technology and ease of modern dating apps like Tinder with features that over 50s find important, the app is designed to help you meet like-minded singles.

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Yes, we're talking about dating apps.

Navigating the online dating scene can be daunting, but given these tumultuous times, now is a great opportunity to test out which app (or multiple apps) are right for you.

After all, there are very few ways to meet someone new in isolation.

According to ABC's Australia Talks National Survey, over 35 per cent of singles met their partners online as of 2019.

1. Lumen

After success in the UK Lumen launched in Australia last year. Catering for those over 50, the app set out to be more than your usual 'seniors dating app'.

First impressions are key and Lumen knows this. Their initial message or 'icebreaker' as they call it requires users to send more than 50 characters, avoiding the basic 'hi' and 'hey'.

Another major issue for those over 50 are men commonly wanting to date younger. As one dating app user complained: 'Men want a woman 10 years younger, so I'm only getting messages from people who look like my kids' grandfather'.

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Lumen's 50+ age limit, limits those looking for 30 year olds. Users also can't lie about their age.

'When you sign up, the app asks you to take a selfie. You can't get any further if you can't take a selfie,' Charly, founder of Lumen, told Now To Love.

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'We cross reference 600 points on your face to check you're the same person in the photo and it roughly guesses your age.'

2. Elite Singles

Powered by one of Europe's 'leading online matchmaking providers', Elite Singles is designed for Aussies looking for a 'long-term commitment'.

Rather than having to wade through countless profiles, Elite Singles uses its matchmaking process to narrow your dating pool to people you will actually be compatible with on a meaningful level.

Elite Singles also regularly monitors its user's profiles.

'We curate the site by verifying profiles, automatically removing inactive members, and proactively removing users we suspect are not serious.'

3. Hinge

Think of Hinge as the less swipe-happy version of popular dating app, Tinder. One of the newest dating apps on the market, Hinge focuses on personality by asking users to answer three questions about themselves, which are then refreshed with new questioned each month.

It also uses a Nobel Prize-winning algorithm to help determine your best match.

Free members can only send a number of 'likes' per day, meaning they have to be more thoughtful about finding the right person.

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Hinge has recently added a new feature designed specifically for dating in self-isolation to help transition from text to video calls.

The 'Date From Home' feature 'enables users to easily signal when they are ready for a virtual date and transition from messaging, to meeting digitally for the first time to get to know each other better.'

4. RSVP

Having first launched in 1997, RSVP has been connecting singles for over 20 years – so, they must be doing something right.

While the site isn't age specific its users average at 35+ years of age. They also have specific RSVP sites for both mature dating and seniors, catering to older demographics.

RSVP offers one of the most specific search capabilities of any site too, so you can look up members according to education or even eye colour – for those who know they have a 'type'.

5. Concha

Best Dating Site For Women Over 50

Concha is the newest dating app on the market, the biggest benefit of which comes in learning from other's mistakes.

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Focusing on building real connections, Concha wants users to talk before they text. Meaning it's perfect for those who prefer face-to-face interaction but still want to online date.

'Once you've matched with a potential love interest, you'll be able to call them (at the right time), or send them a voice message,' they explain.